BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR RETURNS TO LONDON

​This season, London seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the sixth annual Be a Santa to a Senior® program. Spon​sored by the local Home Instead Senior Care® office, the program brings together area nonprofits, retailers, numerous volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.

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“The winter holidays are an exciting time of year for most, but not everyone. Be a Santa to a Senior gives members of our community a chance to brighten the season for seniors who unfortunately could be spending the holidays alone, without any gifts or any way to celebrate,” says Victoria Chalmers, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving London. “By doing something as small as purchasing a pair of gloves for someone in need, local residents can do something special for seniors in their community this year.”​

Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Airport Hyundai, Airport Kia, Black Friars Salon and Spa, Fisher and Company and Heads Up Hair Care to help with the gift collection and distribution.

Participating retail locations will display Be a Santa to a Senior Christmas trees from November 13th to December 4th that feature paper ornaments with a confidential code connected to a senior in our community that lists their specific gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the trees, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the store.

Be a Santa to a Senior trees will be located at

Airport Hyundai, 2040 Dundas Street E.,

Airport Kia, 2284 Dundas Street E.,

Blackfriars Salon and Spa, 182 Wharncliffe Road N.,

Fisher and Company, 515 Richmond Street N., and

Heads Up Hair Care, 2295 Wharncliffe Road S.

Program partners and voluntee​rs will attend a wrapping party to wrap the gifts and then the gifts will be distributed to local seniors who might otherwi​se spend the holiday alone. The Wrapping Party will be December 15th from 6:45-8:45pm at Louise Arbour French Immersion Public School located at 365 Belfield Street.

Monetary donations, wrapping paper and tape, as well as gift items that seniors might enjoy​ such as hats, scarfs, blankets, gift cards to grocery stores, toiletry items, or lap blankets, sweaters, socks or slippers are also appreciated to make sure each individual has a thoughtful gift to unwrap.

“Our partners and volunteers have been such an in​strumental part of this programs’ success in the past. Every year we stand in awe at the community support, gifts and thoughtfulness that individuals put in to the gifts they purchase” said Chalmers. “I’m hopeful we can reach even more seniors this year.”